Herbert Badham’s Model

Herbert Badham was head of the intermediate art department at the National Art School (East Sydney Technical College) from 1938 to 1961 so he would have seen his fair share of models. Love his work.

In this painting he portrays an ‘artist’s model’. She’s supposed to be a traditional lady model. But Badham decides to paint her with her clothes on and with a bold stare which seems to say – look I’ve got my clothes on.

She’s a contemporary lady as is the wallpaper behind her. She’s not decorative though. She isn’t passive like most artist models. So for me it’s a beauty of a painting.